INDIAN RIVER SHORES — The Indian River Shores Town Council on Friday finally approved an agreement long negotiated between the town of Indian River Shores and the public safety officers bargaining unit, the Coastal Florida Police Benevollent Association.
To reach an agreement, the public safety officers gave up cost of living raises for the next three years and agreed to pay for 36 percent of their dependents’ medical insurance costs. They also gave up their three personal leave days a year.
“We were willing to do whatever it took as long as our retirement pensions weren’t cut,” said Officer Sean Hoyt, explaining that Shores public safety officers put nine percent of their salaries into their retirement funds.
Whether the agreement would get the final stamp of approval seemed up in the air at the start of the meeting when council member Mike Ochsner said, “A lot of progress has been made but there is probably still some work to be done.”
Council members Fran Atcheson and Richard Haverland supported Ochsner.
“This agreement is still a work in motion,” said Atcheson.
“A lot of good work has been done but we were operating with less than a full deck of cards and made some misjudgments that need to be adjusted,” said Haverland.
Meanwhile, Town Manager Richard Jefferson, Police Chief Robert Stabe and Detective Shawn Hoyt stifled groans, fearing that the agreement might once again be tabled.
But, it passed with Ochsner voting for it along with mayor Tom Cadden and vice mayor Gerry Weick, while Haverland and Atcheson voted against it.
“There was a lot given up on both sides,” said Cadden.